Fifth CQmma!ldment. The Fifth Commandment. J}onour tbr .fatber antJ tb~ ®otijer , tbat tbp m>ais m a~ be Ion~ upon tbe 1J.aub lbbtcJ) tbe 1l.o~n tbp <!!5otJ gtlletJ) tf)et. 'THE whole Sum of Praaical R~ligion, co~tlifts either in thofe Du~ies .whicb immediately concern the Wor.Oup and Service of God, or thofe which Immediately concern our converfc with, and demeanour towards Men. Both are compendioufly prefcribed in the Decalogue : The former Sort in the firft; The latter 1i1 the fecond Table of the Law. I h:1ve already according to my defigned Method, finilli'd the Expofition of the four Precepts of the firft Table, and have difcourfed .to you, both concer~ing the intc:nal, and alfo the external Worfhip o~ God . It remains now in puduance of th1s Work, to pafs unto the Confideratton of the Duties and Precepts of the fecond Table, all which do concern Man, as their primary and immediate ObjeCl::. But here by the way, let us obferve the diftance that God puts between Himfclf and Us. We are, as it were, fet at another Table from him, as being infinitcl'y infcriour to his great and Glorious Majefty. Firfl:, he prcfcribes what concerns Himfelf, and then what concerns Us, which teacheth us: Firfl, That in all our A'Cl:ions, whether Civil or Sacred, God ought principally 1. to be regarded, his Glory ought to be our higheft.aim and end. This we are to feek: in the firft place; and for the fake and interefl: of th is, to promote the Good and Benefit of Men. This therefore condemns thofe who difturb and pervert the Order of the Law, and inltead of ferving Men out of refpea to God, fcrve God mcerly out of refpect to Men. Secondly, This teacheth us to obferve our due diftance from God: He challengeth 2. all poffible Reverence from us, infomuch that he will not permit fo great a Difparagement to his Honour, as to have his Concerns intermip.gled a.nd blended with ours, no not in the fame Table. And this checks the Infolence of thofe who dare to rufh in upon God with that malapert Saucinefs which is too common among fome brain·fick People in our days, who think that Communion with God cohfifrs in a familiar Rudencfs; and that they never draw near enough unto him, unlefs they run upon his very Neck. But this only by the way. Now in this fecond Table are contain'd fix Precepts, all of them injoining our Duty towards Mau; and he may be confidered either as our Supedour, our Equal, or our lnferiour. Our Duty towards our Superiours and Inferiours (which are Correlates) is prefcribed in the firft of thefe fix which I have now Read unto you, and our Duty towards pur Equals in the other five; all which do refpect our Neighbour, either, In his Perfon : Or, In the exteriour Gifts of Wealth and Credit. His Perfon is to be confidered, either Naturally, or Mylticany, Naturally, as he is in himfelf and his own Perfon: And fo the Sixth Command~ ment provides for his Security, Thou ]bait not kiU. M)•ftically, as he is in the State of M4.rriage, which of two makes one Flefh 7 and fo Care is taken for him in the Seventh Commandment: Thou jhalt nqt commi: .A~u/ury. If we confider him in refpet\ of his external Gifts of Wealth and good Name, fo we !hall fi,,d that the firlt is .fenced about and fecured by the Eighth Conmmand· ment ; 'Thou ]halt not Steal. His Credit and good Name is fecured by the Ninth; Th•u/balt n•t bt.r f.Jft w;,. oefs againjl rby Neigob,ur. . And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=